We Sit Down With Nottingham Based Artist Radu Secareanu to Talk Animation

As an artist who flew all the way from Romania to follow his passion in art and animation at Nottingham Trent University, and who now makes his living at a print shop, Radu Secareanu sees his unique designs printed on hoodies, mugs and coasters every day.

Ever since he was a child, Radu was encouraged by his parents to be creative. He spent his time drawing and practising and quickly realised that creativity was the path for him. “Going into arts was a no-brainer, it was what I loved and what I dreamed of doing,” says the 23-year-old. “Art always found its way into my life, and I followed it wherever it took me.”

But where does Radu find inspiration for his art? The answer is a simple one. “Everything beautiful around me,” he smiles. “I am an observer. I enjoy looking at the finer details in objects and surroundings. I think people are always in a rush and ignore the little things, like the sculpted handrails at the train station you go to every morning, or the intricate wood grain on the vintage table at your local cafe. Those are the things that make life whole and once you start noticing them, you will appreciate them so much more.” 

For Radu, both illustration and animation are effective storytelling tools, and he uses both to explore the themes that excite him. “You can do so much with just a pencil and a sheet of paper. I think what amazes me the most is the infinite possibilities they offer. You could give the same story to 100 people, and you will receive 100 different visual interpretations of it.”

He studied animation, both 2D and 3D, at university, but focused mostly on 2D animation and character design. At his current job, he uses all his illustration skills and even has an illustration book published by an independent author, and created a booklet for a children's educational programme. The talented multi-hyphenate’s proudest artwork is an animated street film that he created for his final year project. It consists of an autumn shot of a row of houses during the golden hour, including small puffs of smoke rising from the chimneys as an old car slowly passes the empty street. It is, as he admits himself, detailed, colourful and diverse. 

As a free-spirited creator, Radu is lifted by challenges, thriving in dynamic and unpredictable environments. “The subjects I work on are so different from one another that I sometimes have to explain myself twice to strangers,” he laughs, adding that he wishes to become a freelance artist one day, with no strings attached to anything apart from his passions and art, being challenged on a daily basis with interesting stories. With his impressive skill set, undeniable drive and striking style, we have to say it’s a dream that will likely come true.

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